Whitetop Mt. Rogers

Whitetop
Mt. Rogers
Visible at great distances, Whitetop Mountain was
known as the “Meadow Mountain” in colonial times.
With a climate similar to southern Canada, this
beloved mountain is Virginia’s second highest peak
and immediately adjacent is Mount Rogers, the
highest peak in the state. The Whitetop community
hosts three annual festivals: the Mountain Maple
Festival, the Sorghum Molasses Festival, and the
Ramp Festival, devoted to consuming the odoriferous
ramp, a form of wild garlic. This is also a favorite
region for outdoor recreation. There are numerous
Albert Hash
trails for horseback riders, mountain bikers, and
hikers, one of which is The Appalachian Trail. The
summit of Whitetop is accessible by automobile and
offers scenic views and picnic settings.
There’s a tradition of making musical instruments
here, and Albert Hash made elaborately carved
violins as well as other instruments using native
woods. The red spruce, that grows at the peak of
the mountains, is a prized tone wood for violins,
Horseback Riding on Mount Rogers
guitars, and other fretted instruments. Hash was an
inspiration to both musicians and craftspeople. He
created a program in string band instruction at the
Mount Rogers School, Virginia’s smallest high school.
Other noted historic musicians from the Whitetop
area include: Harold Hensley, Speedy Tolliver, and
Jont Blevins. The historic Whitetop Folk Festival held
in the 1930s attracted large audiences, national
publicity, and a First Lady, Mrs. Eleanor Roosevelt.
They came to see singers of old ballads, flat foot
dancers, and musicians, including fiddlers, banjo
players, and lap dulcimer players.
First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt and Musicians
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